Still too busy to get pics up (SORRY) but I did want to document my trip while it was still fresh in my mind. Let me say this was one of the most amazing things I have every participated in, and I feel better for it. I have something that will stay with me forever, and knowing that I made it…walked every single one of those sixty miles, makes me feel incredibly accomplished.
Day one started at about 4 am, meeting at our captains house then carpooling to Shoreline community college. A few hours of standing around, feeling anxious and nervous, and then we were off! Took a while to get going, and we were really lumped together. Taht and the fact we had had very little sleep the night before, made day on so tiring. Finally get to camp after about 23 miles, and still have to find our bags, and set up our tents. All we coudl think about was showering and going to bed, but still had to eat dinner. Frankly, not much was said at dinner, as we were all out of energy. Day two started around 5am, and we were part of the first group waiting for the course to open. Warm weather and sunny skies were with us all day. As was amazing community support. From the army guys, to the church with the cookie buffet, to the neighborhood that erected a balloon arch, we were so loved and supported. And to know that these people did this out of the goodness of their hearts, well, at one point brought me to tears. Being tired, worn out, hot, dealing with blisters and sore over-worked muscles, and then having a hundred feet of people just cheering you on, saying how proud they are of you and thanking you…brings out some big emotions. End of day two was brutal, my left calf and hamstring so tight and slightly injured. My teammate Michelle was so great, put her hand on the small of my back and said, “come on, lets go. Almost there. You got this. We can do it.” And we did. Coming back to camp on day two was great, you could hear the music first, cheering next, and then all the walkers who had already arrived shouting and clapping for you. I knew I was so close, and yet I really wasn’t sure if I would make it. With the help of my teammate, and the cheering of the crew and fellow walkers, tears streaming down my face, I made it. Over an hour later, my team was the one to cheer on our last walker. She had terrible shin-splints, and was barely making it. We were prepared with ice packs, and every one of us cried with her as she pushed thru the pain, and joined her team. Wow.
Day three, and we’re excited! We got to walk thru Greenlake, have lunch at Gas Works, walk down by Pike Place, and finish at memorial Stadium in the Seattle Center. Meagan and I hobbled behind, but our team for the most part stayed together. We walked thru the tunnel of family and friends to the finish line, and it was totally sereal. We had finished! Closing Ceremony was beautiful, and as the survivors walked in together, surrounded by fellow-walkers, we each lifted one of our shoes in salute to their bravery. This event raised over 5 million dollars for breast cancer research! And I was a part of it. Two days later, I’m still swimming in the experience. Being cheered on and thanked for three days straight, it is alittle strange to be back to the real world, just a nobody. I wore my pin, and my beads to work last night, and had a table of women who had walked in previous years thank me, and we talked experiences for just a bit. Can’t believe it is behind me, and can’t believe I made it.
Thank you again, to all of you who supported the Rack Warriors both financially, and with kind words, encouraging words, high-fives, etc. We needed each of you to make this happen.
Thank you.
